John w



' 2 Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.) J. w. WEBB. v

FURNACE FOR SMELTING ORES.

Patented A r. 29

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. W. WEBB.

FURNACE FOR. SMELTING GRES- Pate ed Apr. 29, 1884.

WLfiwsse-s:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN w. WEBB,,OE DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES F. BURRELL, OE SAME PLACE.

FURNACE FOR SMELTlNG ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,888, dated April 29, 18 84.

Application filed October 6, 1883.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. WEBB, of Denver, county of Arapahoe, and Stateof Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Furnaces for Smelting Ores, which improvement is fully set forth in the 7 following specification, reference being had to relation to the following points: first, to providing the smelting-furnace with a special construction of arch and fire-bridge, whereby the flames generated in the combustion-chamber are broken up, rolled, and deflected upon the sump in the melting-chamber, so as to impart to the latter the most intense heat; secondly,

to constructing the floor of the melting-chamher or sump with a conoidal or prismatic ele-' vation terminating in an apex, and traversed by a tunnel communicating with lead-wells on either side,whereby the slag, being subjected, under the best conditions, to the deflected flame, will more effectually undergo liquefaction, and a resultant separation of the bullion from the ore ensue, with an avoidance of con-' glomerations or sows in the sump; thirdly, to the special construction and arrangement of the condensing-chamber, all as hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates a smelting-furnace, of which B is the combustion-chamber, and B the meltingchamber, with an intervening bridge, I) I), having a concave face anterior to the combustionchamber, and a curved sloping face, b, leading to the melting-hearth or sump. The tuyereaperture 0 in the front wall of the combustion-chan1ber is provided with the object of admitting dry steam and coal-oil, which undergo combustion in the chamber B. The ceiling of the furnace is a double or broken concave arch, the two sections of which abut in a de-' (No model.)

pending point or ridge, a, which overhangs the floor of the melting-chamber or sump. The flames which are projected toward the melt ing-chamber, and are deflected by the concave fall of the arch, strike the bridge b b, by which they are broken, rolled, and caused to. fall down toward and upon the sump. The mass of slag is in this way subjected to intenseandvpenetrating heat, which speedily reduces it to the required condition. The floorv of the sump is formed with a prismatic or conical rise or mound, d, terminating in a point,which enters the slag, and not only prevents its accumulation into an agglomerate 6 5 mass, but provides sloping surfaces leading to and forming wells, in which the separated bullion gathers. The mound d is traversed by a channel, ff, which forms a communication between the wells and keeps the melted metal at a level. Thesmok'e and fumes generated ,in the melting process issue from the smelting-chamber through a revolving cylindrical flue, e 6, located above the sump, and given a rotary motion in order to prevent the accumu- 7 5 lation of deposit therein. This flue leads to a condenser, as shown in Fig. 3. I

E designates the casing constituting the body of the condensing apparatus, and inclosing the condensing-chamber E, into the upper part of which the revolving cylindrical flue e e leads, as shown. A water-pipe, g, traverses the condensing-chamber immediately above the mouth of the flue e, and is adapted to discharge a down-falling spray of water uponthe incoming fumes and smoke. The latter are thereby forced downward toward the box 2', containing the paddle-wheel j, and having the side toward the flue e .6 open for the admission of the deflected fumes and smoke. This box rests on the floor of the condensing-chamber, which contains water to a sufficient depth to partly submerge the paddles below the axis of the paddle-wheel. A pipe, l, leading from the lower part of the box i on the closed side, rises above the water-level and opens below a hood, m m, leading to a flue, n, which communicates with a powerful exhaust-fan. This hood is double-walled, the space between the walls constituting a water-jacket, through which water circulates by means of inlet and outlet pipes q q, so as to keep the hood cool..

The condensing-chamber is subdivided into two compartments by a double vertical partltion-wall,which straddles the box 1', and terminates on either side thereof a short'distance above the floor of the eondensingeharn her or water-well produced in the lower part thereof and below the water-level, thereby allowing a free circulation of water around said box The paddle-wheel is driven by a shaft, which descends through a well in the wall dividing the chamber, and receives power from any suitable source. The fumes and smoke descending from the flue e c are forced under the water by the action of the rapidlyrevolving paddle wheel, and issue thence through the pipe Z into the hood, the products of condensation remaining on the floor of the condensing-chamber. The paddle-wheel not only serves as an expedient to break up the water into spray, and to project it upon the fumes and smoke, so as to promote condensation, but operates as a suction-fan to draw the fumes and smoke downward and through the water.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a smelting apparatus, the furnace A, comprising the combustion and melting Glllnb bers, and having the tunneled conical or prismatic rise (1 located on the sump of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an apparatus for continuous smelting and condensing, comprising a smelting-furnace and a condenser, the combination, in the latter, of a water-pipe, g, the rotary section paddle-wheel j, box 2', pipe 1, and hood m m, substantially as described.

JOHN \V. WEBB. Witnesses:

CHARLES F. BURRELL, J NO. W. NEWTON. 

